Disclaimer: I work for a Trek dealer. I now have 400 miles on a Taiwan made 58cm SL frameset built with Campy Chorus 11. All, and I mean ALL, the parts were moved over from my Wisconsin made 2008 Madone 6.9 which with pedals, Garmin 500, 2 RL bottle cages, an SKS mini pump, seat pack with two tubes tire levers and mini-tool, and a little LED tail light weighed exactly 17 pounds. The Emonda weighs 16 lbs. 13 ounces. Considering that the Madone frameset retailed for north of $3k in 2008 and the Emonda SL frameset can be had for $1400, and the Emonda rides better (a lot more vertical compliance), feels more solid on a fast descent, and is at least as good climbing and sprinting, I'd call this progress, not mere "marketing." My only gripe was that the SL model is only available as an H2 and my Madone was an H1. I had to use a slammed -17 degree stem to get the fit right but I understand Trek's logic. Every Project One Madone (not to mention the even taller head-tube Domane) we've sold has been an H2.

More bike for less money, you make the call. Bottom line, I'm extremely impressed with what Trek has done with the new Emonda.